Display device



May 29, 1951 F s, JOHNSON 2,555,135

' DISPLAY DEVICE Filed F'eb. 15, 1946 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 L1 Li F75 C7 7 Inventor /"Z ETC/{ER $111051. JaH/vsa/v [vi enter '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ha. 5. f2 Era/E1? 62mm. Joy/v.9

lhtomeys F. S. JOHNSON DISPLAY DEVICE Patented May 29, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY DEVICE Fletcher Samuel Johnson, London, England Application February 15, 1946, Serial N 0. 647,774

. In Great Britain February 17, 1945 6 Claims. 1

The invention relates to a display device and has for its object to afford simple means whereby one or more articles can readily be arranged in a variety of display positions contiguous to advertising, instructive or other literary matter relating to the article or articles.

The display device according to the invention comprises, in combination, a board having a plurality of holes, slots, recesses or apertures distributed over a face thereof and a screen adapted to be applied to the said face and having therein holes or perforations of a number (including one such hole or perforation) less than the number of holes, slots, recesses or apertures, in the board, the arrangement being such that when the screen is applied to the board each hole or perforation in the screen will be in register, or can be brought into register, with a hole, slot, recess or aperture in the board so as to provide a passageway through which there can be engaged with the board a member adapted to provide a support for an article to be displayed or to provide a fastener for such a support, while leaving on the screen an area or areas for the reception of descriptive matter relating to the article.

The screen may be in the form of a sheet or card adapted to be secured to the face of the board, in which case there will usually be provided, for use with the board, a plurality of such sheets or cards each having a different arrange- 1 ment of holes or perforations and bearing descriptive matter appropriate to the particular article or articles to be displayed. Alternatively, the screen may be in the form of an elongated sheet having zones with different arrangements of holes or perforations and areas for descriptive matter, the sheet being movable over the board so that the desired zone can be brought into operative position. y

In order that the invention may be more readily understood reference is now made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment by way of example. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device;

Figure 2 is a front elevation with the screen partly broken away;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line III-III of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front elevation and Figure 5 a sectional view, both to an enlarged scale, illustrating one mode of utilising the device for display, and

Figures 6 .and 7 are similar views illustrating another mode of use.

The device illustrated consists of a fiat rectangular board I which may be of wood, metal, a combination of wood and metal, synthetic resin or other suitable material. In the face of the board there are provided a multiplicity of round holes 2 arranged in parallel rows, and a multiplicity of elongated slots 3 also arranged in parallel rows, the rows of holes alternating with the rows of slots, and the holes and slots being distributed over the entire face of the board. In the embodiment illustrated there is a total of 28 holes and slots in the face of the board. I

The upper and lower ends of the board I are each provided with a pair of plates 4 which form supports for a roller 5 and a drum 6 which are both arranged beyond the end of the board, the rollers being situated nearest the board.

A screen I constituted by an elongated sheet of paper textile-fabric or other suitable material of a pliable nature is arranged over the face of the board I, the ends of the sheet passing under the rollers 5 and being rolled on the drums 6. The drums are provided with hand grips 8 to facilitate rotation. With this arrangement, when one drum is turned, the sheet will be wound thereon while being drawn 01f the other drum, thereby exposing successive areas of the sheet over the face of the board. The rollers 5 act to keep the exposed part of the sheet flat against the face of the board.

The sheet constituting the screen I is divided into zones each having an area corresponding substantially to the area of the face of the board I. Each zone has perforations 9 of circular shape corresponding to the holes 2 in the board, and further perforations ID of elongated form corresponding to the slots 3 in the board, the total number of perforations 9 and ID in each zone being less than the total number of holes and slots in the board, so that the exposed part of the sheet is left with free areas for the reception of descriptive matter. The exposed zone of the sheet as illustrated in Figure 1 has, by way of example, eight round perforations 9 arranged in pairs one above the other, and four perforations l0 also arranged one above the other, making a total of 12 perforations, leaving areas such as those indicated by broken lines I I, for the application of the descriptive matter. The various perforations 9 and I0 in the sheet are so positioned that, by rotating the drums 6 to adjust the sheet over the face of the board, the perforations 9 will register with corresponding holes 2 in the board and the perforations ID with corresponding slots 3.

It will be understood that in other zones of.

the sheet 1 the perforations will be of different number or arrangement according to the kind of article or articles it is desired to display in relation to that zone, provided that these perforations register with their counterparts in the board when the sheet is properly adjusted, and provided also that the total number of perforations is such as to leave at least one free area for the receptionof the desired descriptive matter.

The sheet 1, instead of being in the form of a long unitary strip, may be made up of a series of panels which are suitably joined together at their ends as by being provided with perforations or loops through which a thin metal fastening wire or rod can be passed.

Figures 4 to 7 illustrate two of anumher of methods that may be employed in. utilising the holes 2 and recesses 3 in the board I to' assist in the support of the articles to be displayed.

According to Figures 4 and 5, pegs passed through a pair ofthe'circular perfora: tions 9 in the screen 1. and; engagesin a register. ing pair of holes 2 in the board I, the pegs being of such diameter that they fit with a degree of tightness in the holes 2 so that they are held firmly but can, nevertheless, be withdrawn when desired. The pegs constitute means for securing to the exposed face of the screen a bracket or shelf [3 which is of any suitable material and which provides a support for an article to bedisplayed, the article illustrated beinga bottle M, by way of example.

According to. Figures 6 and 7, for supporting the article to be displayed, use is .made. of a bracket or shelf which is provided with a rearwardly extending tongue [6, thev arrangement being such that when the bracket isapplied to the exposed face of the screen 1, the tongue will extend through an elongated perforation Illinthe screen and engage in a registering slot 3 in the board, the tongue fitting into the slotwith a sufficient degree of tightness to retain the bracket inposition, while allowing the latter to be removed when desired. The bracket forms a support for an article. to be displayed, the article illustrated being a powder box I! by way of example.

The device according to the invention enables a large range of articles to be readily displayed in a variety of positions, accompaniedby descriptive matter relating to them.

12 are Any suitable means may be provided for supporting the device. It may be adapted for hanging up in a shop-window or show-case or may be provided with one or more legs (not shown) to enable it to be stood up on a shelf or platform. It may also be made in any desired size.

I claim:

1. A display device comprising, in combination, a board having therein a plurality of preformed holes distributed over the face thereof, a screen applied to a face of said board and having therein preformed perforations of a number less than the number of holes in said board but in register with certain of the holes in said board, the nonperforated part'of said sheet providing space for the application to the sheet of advertising matter, andat least one member passing through a perforation in said screen and engagin removably in a registering hole in said board, said member constituting a support for an article to be displayed against the exposed face of said screen.

2. A display device. according to claim 1, Wherein some of the holes in the board are of cylindrical shape and others are. in the form of slots and wherein the perforations in the. screen. are. of corresponding shapes.

3. A display device according to claim 1, wherein the screen is detaohably secured to the board.

4. A- display device according to claim 1, wherein the screen is in the form of an elongated sheet the ends of which are wound upondrums mounted rotatably on the board.

5. A display'device according to claim 1, whereinthe supporting-member is in the form ofa P 6. A display device according to claim 1, wherein the supporting member is in the form of a shelf.

FLETCHER SAMUEL JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The l w n e ren s ar o r r n. e. file of this patent;

N TED STATES; ATENTS Number Name Date 357,542; Travis Feb. 8, 188 7= 1,895,068 Borroughs Jan. 24, 1933 

